Clock-synchronizing device.



APPLICATION FI LED MAY 8. I919.

Patented J 11 22, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. BRYCE, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR. TO THE INTERNATIONAL TIME RECORDING COMPANY, 02 NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CLOCK-SYNCHRON IZIN G DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 295,595.

. I To all whom it may (anew-m.

Be it known that I, JAMES WV. BRYCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock-Synchronizing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

The following is a description of the sys tem for synchronizing clocks which is now well known in the artand upon which the invention which forms the subject of this application for Letters Patent is an impro vement.

A master clock is connected up in circuit with a plurality of secondary clocks, and to this circuit it connects a source of current for a specified time, usually fifteen minutes at some given time, as, for instance, once an hour, from fifteen minutes of the hour to the even hour. Each secondary clock contains two electro-magnets in circuits which are connected by such clocks for specified intervals during each hour in definite relation to the time as indicated by such clocks With the line circuit One of said magnets controls means that permit the clock to run above normal speed, and the other, means fol-retarding its rate. The circuit closer controlling the former magnet connects its circuit with the line for a given interval, say fifteen minutes, beginning at the even hour, as indicated by its hands, and the other for a like interval, beginning at approximately thirty minutes of the hour, as also indicated by its hands. From this it results that if the clock be too slow the accelerating magnet will be energized before the end of the period of current flow maintained by the master clock, or if too fast the retarding magnet will be energized after the begin ning of such period of flow, with the result that the secondary clock will be either accele'ated or retarded, as the case may be,

until it is brought into synchronism with I the masteigclocl 1 In this system as I have heretofore constructed the apparatus, at least two control ling magnets were required in 'cach sccondary clock, and more or less complicated mechanism used for-cooperating therewith, but I have now devised a plan of construction by means of which one magnet may be dispensed with, and in which a very simple form of mechanism may be employed to ac complish the same result.

This improvement isillustratcd in. the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a diagrammatic illustration ol the improvementas applied to a secondary clock, and

Fig". 2 is a sectional view of a diiierentiai gear "forming part of the clock train.

The nuister clock, the line circuit and the means employed in connection therewith for connecting to line a current for given intervals at predctcrininod times are not illustrated herein as they are now well known, and it is suiiicient for purposes of this case to state that the electro-iuagnct A in the sccondury clock is by such means taicrgizod for cxactiy fifteen minutes each hour, the period of activity boginnii-ig at fifteen minutes oi" the hour and ending at the hour, true or master clock time.

The secondary clock, and will be understood that there are as many such clocks in the circuit as may be required, and that they are all of the same construction, has any proper train of wheels B containing a ditfcrcntial gear (7 of the, usual and known construction. with one main gear I) of which engages the pinion of an ordinary cscapciucut and balance I), and with the other main gear 1 of which engages the pinion of a rotary fun G, having lixcd thereto a toothed wheel I i, normally locked by a lever K so that the train as a whole runs under the control oi the escapcincnt and balance wheel 1*).

Fixed to the hour shaft of the secondary is a cum disk I), having a raised portion M of such extent as to require fifteen minutes in passing any given point. Upon the pcriphcry of this cam bears a roller carried by a lover N pivoted at O and normally hold in contact with the cam by a spring i The lever N engages with a, slot in a link or bar Q pivoted to one arm of lever K and having a hooked upper end adapted to be shifted by the engagement of the roller on lever N with the raised portion of the cam L. The imm'nct .l is n'ovidcd with a nivoted armature it over which the hooked end of link Q is adapted to be shifted by the lever N.

. so as tobring its hooked end over the end of armature R, during a period of fifteen miniltes which overlaps that during which the magnet A is due to be energized. That isto say, the armature will be raised, the link Q, lifted and the fan released during such overlapping interval, from which it results that the secondary clock speeds up until it is brought to synchronism when the link Q is drawn out of engagement with the armature B.

As above stated, the raised portion M of the cam requires exactly fifteen minutes to pass a given point, and in conjunction with capcmcnt E and with it'the clock train is the cam is a second lever S with a point which engages and is raised by the high point at fifteen minutes of the hour according to the hands of the secondary andis dropper. at the even hour. In other words, the lever S is raised by one end of M at the instant that lever N drops from the other.

The lever S engages with a link T pivoted to an arm X fixed to the armature R, by a pin working in a slot in the said link, and when the lever S is in engagement with the high point M the armature cannot be raised as the link T is locked by lever S.

If the clock is in exact synchronism with the master clock, the period during which the lever S is raised coincides exactly with that during which the magnet A is energized and nothing happens. But should the clock be too fast then the lever S Will drop oil M before the end of this period of energization with the result that the armature R is raised and the link T thrown to the left.

Connected with the link T by a link U is a spring actuated lever V carrying a light brake W which by this movement is brought into engagement with the periphery of the balance wheel, with the result that the esstopped until the master clock catches up with it.

Theoperation by which thefan G is released, involves an upward movement of the armature R, which is at that time free to shift the link T and arrest the escapement E, but this is without sensible efi'ect, as the clock train is free to run through that member of the differential which engages with the fan pinion. On the other hand, when the armature is raised to stop the clock it has. no effect upon the fan, as at such times the link Q is not engaged by the armature.

1,3 io,rse

It is manifest from the above that the objects of the synchronizing system which is set forth and broadly claimed in previous applications filed by me, notably in Serial No. 235,813, filed May 21, 1918, are accomplished by the means herein described, but by apparatus of a different character. So ,far as the broad principle, however, is convised for the purpose.

What I now claim is 1. A synchronizing mechanism for sec: ondary clocks comprising in combination a clock train, means forretarding and means for accelerating its rate, an electro-magnet adapted to be energized for definite periods of predetermined extent by-amaster clock, an armature for said magnet and means operative for definite periods in fixed relation to the time as indicated by the secondary clock to cause said armature to operate the retarding or the accelerating means when the normal relations of such periods to the periods of energization of said magnet are disturbed.

2. In a secondary clock the combination with a train of means for retarding and means for accelerating its rate, an electromagnet adapted to be energized for periods of definite extent by the master clock, a mov able armature and means operated by its movement to retard the clock if it be too fast or tov accelerate it if it be too slow, and thus bring it into synchronism with the master clock. 1

3. In a secondary clock the combination with a train of means for .retarding and means for accelerating its rate, an electromagnet adapted to be energized for definite periods of predetermined extent by a master clock, a movable armature and cam operated levers adapted to be shifted for definceirned, this mechanism possesses the same "advantages .as the others which I have (lo-I11 nite periodsby the clock mechanism and in i I fixed relation to the time as indicated by its hands, and to thereby cause said armature to actuate the retarding or the accelerating means and bring the clock into synchronism when the normal relations of said periods to those of the energizat-ion of the magnet are disturbed.

' 4. In a secondary clock the combination with a train of means for accelerating its rate, an electromagnet adapted to be energized for definite periods of predetermined extent by a master clock, a movable armature therefor, a cam operated lever adapted to be shifted by the clock for definite periods in fixed relation to the time as indicated by the clock, and to connect with said armature the accelerating means when the'clock is too slow and the normal relation of its period of shift to the period of energization V iso with the train 01 mamas $01" retarding its rate, an eiectmmagnet adapted to b58116?- to be 31 i d by clock for definite periods in fixed relation #36 the time as indicated by the dock, and meanscnntrolleal thereby for lockmg rile amnat-um against movement but releasing the Same and peYmiit-ing it to actw 1 ate the retarding means when the clock is too fast and the normal relation. of the period of shifi of said lever t6 the perioal of energization of the magnet is disturbe Ill-testimony where-0151 hereunto afiix my 15 signature.

' JAMES W. BRYCE, 

